Summary:
Madurai, Mar 16 (PTI) The Madras High Court has termed the usage of mobile phones and taking videos inside government office as "a grave misconduct," and directed the Tamil Nadu government to issue appropriate instructions regulating their use during office hours.
Justice SM Subramaniam also directed that strict action be initiated against violation of the circular/instructions in this connection.
The court"s directions came while hearing into the plea by a state government official challenging her suspension for filming her colleagues during work hours that allegedly led to a dispute, leaving one person injured.
However, the Court cannot conduct enquiry in respect of such allegations, which all are to be gone into by the Disciplinary Authority at the time of enquiry.
Since there were allegations and counter allegations, the competent authority has to conduct a detailed probe based on the documents and evidences available as the charges are serious in nature, the court said.
"This Court is of the considered opinion that using mobile phones by the public servants during office hours has become nowadays a normal scenario.